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November 14, 2018

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Workshop on Marine Affairs 2018

Xiamen, China 1 – 3 November 2018

The annual World Oceans Week (WOW) celebration in Xiamen this year included a Workshop on Marine Affairs that focused on capacity building for sustainable development. The forum was jointly organised by the Coastal and Ocean Management Institute (COMI) of Xiamen University, the 4th Institute of Oceanography of the Ministry of Natural Resources, the International Ocean Institute – China Regional Center for the Western Pacific Ocean, China-PEMSEA Sustainable Coastal Management Cooperation Center, the Fujian Institute of Oceanography, and the Research Centre for Coastal Bay Planning and Development of the Xiamen University.

Prof Xue Xiongzhi, Executive Director of COMI, Xiamen University officiating at the forum

The forum provided a regional platform for sharing experiences in capacity building and for cooperation among coastal states towards sustainable coastal development in the region especially in the context of climate change.

Local experts and participants from government and non-governmental organisations and academe as well as representatives from Southeast Asian countries attended. Ms. Cheryl Rita, Head of the Centre for Coastal and Marine Environment was invited to represent MIMA.

Group picture of speakers, panellists and participants

Presentations covered a wide array of topics including experiences and needs on sustainable development in the coastal zones, scaling up integrated coastal management in the region, issues and challenges faced by countries, case studies from the region, as well as emerging methods and tools for sustainable coastal development.

Overall, the meeting yielded highlights on best practices that could be emulated elsewhere in the region, some of which will be further discussed and emphasised at the East Asian Seas (EAS) Congress 2018 later this month.